Ryan Smyth

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = Colorado Avalanche
former_teams=New York Islanders
Edmonton Oilers
league = NHL


image_size = 250px
position = Left Wing
shoots =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 190
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1976|2|21
birth_place = Banff, AB, CAN
draft = 6th overall
draft_year = 1994
draft_team = Edmonton Oilers
career_start = 1995

Ryan Alexander Gordon Smyth (born February 21, 1976 in Banff, Alberta) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays left wing for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League. Smyth was selected 6th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, and he went on to play 12 seasons for the club he idolized as a child.

Playing career

Edmonton Oilers (1994–2007)

Smyth played 3 games for the Oilers in the 1994–95 season. The following season he tallied his first goal, on 24 November, 1995 against Trevor Kidd of the Calgary Flames while on the power play. He has the distinction of breaking two of Wayne Gretzky's Oilers records, scoring 20 goals on the power play in just his second full season, and scoring three goals in 2:01, breaking Gretzky's club record (2:18) for the fastest hat trick by an Oiler on October 12, 2006. It was Smyth's fifth career hat trick. Smyth was part of the Gold medal winning Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics. On 14 August, 2003, Smyth managed to avoid arbitration with, and a possible trade from, the Oilers by signing a two-year contract.

Smyth currently holds a Team Canada record for most games played at 78. His nickname is "Captain Canada" as he was named captain of Team Canada for the World Championships from 2001 to 2005. Smyth also played for Team Canada in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Smyth was part of the 2005–06 Oiler team which advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. Smyth showed his persistence in the presence of injury during the second-round series against the San Jose Sharks. However, the Oilers lost in game 7 of the finals to the Carolina Hurricanes. Smyth had 7 goals and 9 assists in the 2006 Playoffs.

Smyth made his first All Star appearance at the 2007 All-Star game in Dallas.

New York Islanders (2007)

On February 27, 2007, last minute negotiations with Smyth's agent Don Meehan failed, and after twelve years with the Oilers, Smyth was traded to the New York Islanders, in exchange for Robert Nilsson, Ryan O'Marra and the Islanders' first round pick in the 2007 entry draft. That night happened to be Mark Messier's jersey retirement night. [ [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070227/Mark_messier_070227?s_name=&no_ads= "Messier has No. 11 sweater retired by Oilers"] , Canadian Press, "CTV", February 27, 2007] On February 28, 2007, Smyth held an emotional news conference at the Edmonton International Airport. He thanked the Oilers organization, the fans and everyone involved for allowing him to play and live his career in Edmonton.

On March 1, 2007, Smyth notched his first point as an Islander, picking up an assist on Mike Sillinger's first period powerplay goal. In 18 regular season games, Smyth posted 5 goals, 10 assists, and racked up 14 penalty minutes in helping the Islanders edge out the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens for the 8th and final 2006–07 Eastern Conference playoff berth. Smyth then put up 1 goal, 3 assists and 4 penalty minutes as the 8th seeded Islanders were eliminated in 5 games by the top-seeded Buffalo Sabres on April 20, 2007.

Colorado Avalanche (2007- )

On July 1, 2007, Smyth signed a 5 year, $31.2 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AjUw.rbBP_jg0K7TfAYpVUZ7vLYF?slug=ap-avalanche-smyth&prov=ap&type=lgns Yahoo! Sports - Sports News, Scores, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more ] ] He only played in 55 games during the 2007-2008 NHL Season, recording 14 goals and 23 assists. He recorded 2 goals and 3 assists in the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild in the first round but were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champions Detroit Red Wings in round 2.

Personal

Older brother Kevin Smyth played 58 games in the NHL for the Hartford Whalers. [ http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=5065 Kevin Smyth Career Stats] .

Awards

*WHL East Second All-Star Team - 1995

Career statistics

International play

Smyth has often been called "Captain Canada" because of his contributions to Team Canada. Played for Canada in:

*1995 World Junior Championships (gold medal)
*1999 World Championships
*2000 World Championships
*2001 World Championships
*2002 World Championships
*2002 Winter Olympics (gold medal)
*2003 World Championships (gold medal)
*2004 World Championships (gold medal)
*2004 World Cup of Hockey (gold medal)
*2005 World Championships (silver medal)
*2006 Winter Olympics

International statistics

References

External links

*hockeydb|11264
*nhlprofile|8460496
*imdb name|1191101